Snow removal device



S. D. POOL ET AL Aug. 27, 1968 SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1965 Aug. 27, 1968 s. D. POOL ET AL.

SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1965 Aug. 27, 1968 S. D. POOL ET AL SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 22, 1965 $6 a 2 W 4.\ :1, n WJ a E? w .W a a O 3 m. 5 6

United States Patent M 3,398,470 SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE Stuart D. Pool, Naperville, and Edward Svereika, Chicago, 111., assignors to International Harvester Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 22, 1965, Ser. No. 465,855 7 Claims. (Cl. 37-43) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A snow removal machine that can be set up to remove snow by different methods as dictated by the prevailing conditions. The machine includes a pair of augers that can be mounted such that the flighting is either right or left-hand feed and the angers can be rotated in either direction.

A The present invention relates generally to improvements in snow removal devices and the like and more particularly to a new and improved machine that can function either as a snow blower or as a snow tedder.

Snow removal machines operate to remove snow by various methods. The most common snow removal machine is the snow plow which includes a blade arranged at an angle to the path of the machine and functions by deflecting the snow from the path into a row parallel to the path. Another type snow removal machine is called the snow blower which moves along a path feeding the snow centrally of a machine by rotating angers. The centrally fed snow is then thrown or blown upwardly through a chute where it is discharged as a stream of snow to one side or the other. Machines of this type are limited by the amount of snow that can be fed through the chute, and must proceed along its path slowly because excess snow is fed over the auger and back into the path of the machine. The stream of snow thrown by this type of machine is influenced by the direction and velocity of the wind which under some conditions can render this type of machine undesirable.

Another type of snow removal machine moves along a path and includes a rotating anger that functions to move the snow in its path transversely towards one end of the auger. The snow leaves the end of the auger at a rather low trajectory and thus tends to pile up the snow along a row paralleling the cleared path. If the path cleared by a single swath .of the snow removal machine is sufiicient, this of course is not a disadvantage. However, if the area to be cleared requires several passes of the snow removal machine, the increasing depth of the snow eventually will render the machine inoperative for its purpose. However, this type of machine requires considerably less power and will move more snow than a comparable snow blower of the type previously discussed. The type of snow and the ambient weather conditions obviously determine how well a particular snow removal machine will operate in a given condition. And it is ,obvious that under some conditions one type of machine will perform better than others. The general purpose of this invention is to provide a snow removal device which embraces all the advantages of other machines and has the added advantage that it can be arranged to remove snow by different methods as dictated by the prevailing conditions. To attain this, the present invention contemplates a unique snow removal machine having a pair .of auger portions that can be driven in either direction and can be reversed in position, one with respect to the other. In addition an adjustable deflector that functions as a snow plow, is provided so that the snow can be fed to either one auger portion or the other.

An object of the present invention is the provision of 3,398,476 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 the snow removal machine that can remove snow from its path by any of several methods. 7

Another object is to provide a snow removal machine made up of basic subassemblies that can be assembled to form machines that operate to remove snow by different methods.

Still another object is the provision of a snow tedder that can function to divide the snow encountered in its path and deposit it equally on both sides of the snow tedder.

Still another .object is to provide a snow tedder that can direct all snow encountered to one side of the snow tedder.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the specification and drawings where in:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation of the apparatus shown mounted upon a tractor.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus taken along lines 2, 2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation view of the apparatus having a chute mounted thereon.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus mounted on the tractor having the deflector adjusted in one position.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the apparatus mounted on a tractor having the deflector mounted in another position.

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the apparatus functioning as a tedder wherein the auger rotation is reverse.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a front view of the apparatus operating as a tedder with the auger rotating in a forward direction.

FIGURE 9 is a side view of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is another embodiment of the apparatus using only one of the auger portions.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts through out the several views, there is shown in F-IGUREI a tractor designated 33 having applicants snow removal device mounted thereon. The snow removal device includes a casing 20 having a top wall 34 and a back wall 46. The end portions of the top wall 34 are flared up as designated at 21. A cutter shoe 22 is secured to the casing along the lower edge of the back wall 46. An opening 29 is formed in the central portion of the back Wall 46 through which the drive belt 47 passes. Openings, one on each side of opening 29 extend into a portion of the top wall 34. These openings 35, are either covered by a cover plate 36 as seen in FIGURE 1 or by a chute 37 as seen in FIGURE 3.

A central bulkhead 23 is secured to the casing extending in a general vertical plane and connected to the easings top wall 34 and back wall 46. The central bulkhead 23 includes a first wall 24 having an opening 25 formed therein and a second wall 26 having an opening 27 formed therein. The first and second walls 24 and 26 respectively, are connected by a bite portion 28. A hinge 51 extends along the forward vertical edge of the bite portion 28 for a purpose that shall be discussed. The opening 27 formed in the second wall 26 has a reinforcing ring 31 secured as by welding around its peripheral edge. An arbor 30 is secured to the reinforcing ring 31 as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The arbor 30 carries a pair of bearings 32 that function to journal the shaft 48. The opening 25 formed in the first wall 24 is larger than the opening 27 and provides a clearance between the opening 25 and the pulley 70.

Reference is made to FIGURE 3 for a description of the means for mounting the snow removal device upon a tractor or the like. The tractor mounts 40 each include a mounting plate 49 secured to the back wall 46 of the casing and extending rearwardly therefrom. A pair of generally horizontal arms 41 extend rearwardly from said mounting plates and are connected to the tractor or the like at their free end. Tabs 42 extend from the mounting plates 49 and have elongated slots 43 formed therein. A shaft 44 is mounted in the slots 43 and can be secured in an adjusted position within the slot. A double pulley 45 is journalled on the shaft 44.

'A pair .of auger portions 60 are mounted for rotation within the casing 20. Each auger portion 60 includes a cylinder or core 61 that is closed at one end by an outer head 62. A bushing 63 is secured to the outer head 62 for the purpose of mounting the auger portion on the shaft 48. A helical flighting 64 is secured about the outer surface of. the cylinder or core 61. An inner head 66 is provided within the cylinder or core 61 between the outer head and the open end of the auger portion. A bushing 67 is mounted on the inner head in alignment with bushing 63. A plurality of apertures 68 are formed in the cylinder or core 61 adjacent its open end. Since both of the auger portions are identical in construction, a description of one auger portion is considered suflicient.

As can be best seen in FIGURE 2, a drive pulley 70 is secured to a sleeve or collar 71. The sleeve or collar 71 is of such a size that it telescopes within the cylinder or core 61 of an auger portion. Apertures 72 are formed in the sleeve or collar 71 and upon insertion of the sleeve or collar within the cylinder 61, apertures 72 and 68 can be aligned. The sleeve or collar can then be secured to the cylinder 61 for example by nuts and bolts 73. As can be readily understood since each auger portion 60 has apertures 68 formed therein, the drive pulley 70 can be secured to either auger portion. Radially extending apertures are 65 formed in the bushings 63 through which bolts 80 extend for the purpose of securing the auger portions 60 to the shaft 48.

As can be best seen in FIGURE 1, a deflector is secured to the casing 20 by a hinge 51 extending vertically along the bite portion 28 of the central bulkhead 23. A hinge pin 52 having a ring secured to one end is removable to permit the deflector to be readily attached or detached from the casing. A strut 54 is secured to the upper wall of the casing 20 and has an aperture 55 formed in each end portion thereof. An aperture 53 is formed in the deflector 50 adjacent its free end. A telescoping link 56, having alignable apertures 57 through which a locking pin 58 can be inserted, has offset end portions which extend through apertures 55 and 53 to thus support the deflector 50 in the desired position relative to the casing.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the auger portions 60 are arranged such that upon rotation they tend to feed snow outwardly in both directions. FIGURES 8 and 9 are front and side views respectively, of the snow removal device as arranged in FIGURE 1. In FIGURES 8 and 9 the deflector 50 has been removed. As is best illustrated in FIG- URES 8 and 9, the flightings 64 rotate downwardly into the snow and tend to carry the snow rearwardly and upwardly against the back wall 46 and top wall 34. The flared ends 21 function to direct the snow outwardly and upwardly at a shallow angle. Thus when operating with the angers arranged as they are in FIGURES 1, 8 and 9, and with the deflector 50 removed, the snow removal device clears a path through the snow by dividing the snow equally and discharging it in a transverse direction at a shallow upward angle. If it is desirable to deposit the snow on only one side of the snow removal device or to deposit a majority of the snow on one side of the device, then the deflector 50 is hingedly secured to the casing by the hinge pin 52 and is positioned by the telescoping link 56 to direct as much snow as is desirable to the opposite side of the snow removal device. If it is desirable to deposit all the snow on the left side of the tractor the deflector 50 is arranged as shown in FIGURE 4. If it is desirable to direct all the snow to the right hand side of the tractor the deflector 50 is arranged as is 4 shown in FIGURE 5. When utilizing the deflector 50, it functions as a snow plow to direct all material that it encounters toward the auger portion 60 located on the opposite side of the snow removal device.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7 an alternate method of removing snow utilizing the same elements as in FIGURES 1, 8 and 9' will bediscu'ssed= As can be best seen by comparing FIGURES 6 and 7-'with FIGURES 8 and 9, it is seen that the auger portions have been reversed such that the'flightingnow tends to feed inthe opposite direction. However the direction of rotating the angers has also been reversed and thus by reversing both the direction of rotation and the auger portions, material will still be fed outwardly 'from both ends of the casing. The auger portions are interchanged on the casing by rem0ving nuts and bolts thus permittingeach auger portion to be removed from the shaft 48. The drive pulley 70 is then removed from the one auger portion by unfastening the nuts and bolts 73 and securing the drive pulley '70 to the other auger portion 60 by the same nuts and bolts. The auger portions 60 are then reassembled on the shaft 48 and secured in place by the bolts 80. The direction of rotation of the angers is reversed by merely twisting the belt 47 to the left as seen in FIGURE 1 rather than to the right. In other words as seen in FIGURE 1, that portion of the belt 47 now directed to the top of pulley 70 is directed to the bottom of pulley 70 and that portion of belt 47 as seen in FIGURE 1 directed to the bottom of pulley 70 is directed to the top of said pulley. As is illustrated in FIGURE 6, the material thrown from the ends of the auger portions, is thrown at a relatively steep angle indicated as B as compared to the relatively shallow angle A as seen in FIGURE 8. The reverse auger rotation arrangement has been found to be superior when working in deep or very wet heavy snow. The benefit of the guidance by the flared ends 21 is forfeited in this arrangement. However, with the snow being thrown off the front portion of the auger 60, snow can be removed that would tend to clog or stall the arrangement as shown in FIG- URES 8 and 9.

If the conditions dictate the use of the snow blower, the cover plate 36 can be removed and the chute 37 installed. To operate as a snow blower, the auger portions 60 must be interchanged from their arrangement as shown in FIGURE 1. With the angers so arranged and their direction of rotation unchanged, the angers tend to convey snow rearwardly and towards the center of the device. When the material reaches the center of the casing 20, it follows the contour of the casing upwardly and is discharged through the aperture 35 and is deflected either to the right or to the left by the deflector 38.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, a walk-behind snow removal device of the tedder type is disclosed. In this device, only one of the auger portions 60 is utilized and is arranged to feed material outwardly and deposit it along one side of the cleared path. A snow removal machine of the type such as this includes an engine and handles 91 through which the operator controls the machine.

Thus it is seen that a snow removal machine has been provided, made up of elements that can readily be arranged to remove snow in the most expedient manner. Obviously many -modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a snow removal device:

an elongated casing having open ends and an open forward side, an opening formed in the central portion of said casing,

a bulkhead secured to the central portion of said casing and extending transverse thereto,

an arbor carried by said bulkhead, said arbor including a bearing,

a pair of auger portions, each including a generally cylindrical core and a head including a bushing mounted Within said cylindrical core adjacent one end thereof, a shaft adapted to be journaled in said bearing and to extend through said bushings, means for releasably securing said heads to said shaft, and means extending through said opening formed in the central portion of said casing for driving said pair of anger portions.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bulkhead includes a first and second spaced wall,

said arbor secured to said first wall such that it extends outwardly therefrom in both directions,

an opening formed in said second wall permitting said arbor to pass freely therethrough.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 weherin there is provided a pulley including a collar adapted to be releasably connected to a said cylindrical core and to extend through the opening formed in said second wall. 4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elongated casing has a top wall and the free ends of said top wall include upwardly flared portions.

5. Inasnow removal device: an elongated casing having open ends and an open forward side, an opening formed in the central portion of said casing, a bulkhead secured to the central portion of said casing and extending tranversely thereto, an arbor carried by said bulkhead, a pair of auger portions having oppositely directed spiral flightings, said arbor including means for interchangeably journaling said auger portions such that upon rotation of said auger portions in one direction they either both feed material inwardly toward said bulkhead or outwardly away from said bulkhead, and means extending through said opening formed in the central portion of said casing for driving said pair of anger portions,

6. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein tractor mounts extend rearwardly from said elongated casing and include a double pulley mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis in general alignment with said pulley conected to said cylindrical core.

7. In a snow removal device:

an elongated casing having open ends and on open forward side,

an opening formed in the central portion of said casing,

a bulkhead secured to the central portion of said casing and extending transversely thereto,

an arbor carried by said bulkhead,

a pair of auger portions having oppositely directed spiral flightings,

said arbor including means for journaling said auger portions such that they rotate as a single unit,

a pulley secured to the inner end of one of said auger portions in alignment with said opening formed in the central portion of said casing,

tractor mounts secured to and extending rearwardly from said elongated casing and including a double pulley mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis in general alignment with said pulley secured to the inner end of one of said auger portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 775,293 11/ 1904 Bowman 37-24 1,870,591 8/1932 Saxon 37-43 2,769,255 11/ 1956 Mead 37-43 3,021,620 2/1962 Rosenthal 37-43 3,315,381 4/1967 Fisher 37-43 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 517,479 10/ 1955 Canada. 569,851 2/ 1959 Canada.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

A. E. KOPECKI, Assistant Examiner. 

